"I'll be fine," Richie replied. "Have fun."

"Don't wait up," Emma said as she walked to the door and paused, looking at Andy. "Wait. Was that forward?"

Andy held up his fingers again to signify 'a little,' and then with a smile, he opened the door.

They really had a date?

They called it that?

Did they say where they're going?

Thanks.

Stew got the information he wanted; he was curious, because he saw Andy drive through town in a clean pickup truck and combed hair.

So he called his grandson, Richie.

Richie gave him all the information he needed, and Stew, just to be 'that kind of guy', went to Broncos to watch his daughter.

Not to make her nervous or embarra.s.s her, but to make sure she didn't screw up. The last thing he wanted was for Emma to be alone. She hadn't dated in years. She went to have drinks with Andy often, but it was never a date.

Stew knew Andy was a good guy.

He also knew Andy was the only man in town or in the state of Montana that could deal with Emma.

His daughter needed that, and Stew needed someone to keep her in line.

Andy had the potential to pull her from her insane world into a semi-insane world, because Emma would never be normal.

Dinner was excellent, and Emma wasn't really surprised that conversation didn't fly; she didn't expect it to with Andy. Typically, they just met for drinks, played pool or darts, and talked very little. But it was a pseudo date and Emma was making the best of it, especially since not only was Andy paying, he decided on ribs for her when he was in the mood for salmon.

Since he was communicating with Richie, Emma decided to teach him some sign language over dinner. Andy picked it up pretty quickly. She felt guilty about one thing she taught him, and eventually she would tell him that when he thought he was signing, 'are you having a good time?' he was actually saying, "You're the coolest chick I know."

Emma snickered at that, but Andy kept signing it and grasped it like a pro.

There was something different about the night. Andy looked different. It wasn't just the hair cut he got for the occasion. Emma couldn't place her finger on it.

They headed to the Tilt and Twist, an earthy bar just on the outskirts of Lincoln. It was pretty busy, but it was Friday, the closet bar to town, and karaoke night. She wasn't surprised to see her father at the bar when she walked in. Of course, he would be there, spying. Stew merely waved, lifted a drink, and commented that her hair looked better and that she should have worn something other than jeans.

She dragged Andy from the handshake to grab a pool table while one was open. Andy quickly placed down a few games worth of quarters.

"You're so on," Emma told Andy. "And I am not taking it easy on you because it's date night." She chalked up her stick.

He found the one he would use, looked at Emma, and signed. "You're the coolest chick I know."

Emma laughed. "I am having a great time, thanks." She paused and lowered her head. "Can I tell you something?"

Andy nodded.

Emma walked to him. "You're the coolest guy I know."

Andy laughed with a throw back of his head.

"I'm serious. Don't make fun of me. Why are you laughing?"

Andy shook his head. "Not ... not used to c .... c ..."

"Compliments?"

He gave a thumbs up.

"You should be; you are a great guy, Andy. And can I tell you a secret?"

"Y ... yes."

"I've kinda always liked you."

Andy moistened his lips, moved closer to Emma, leaned down some and said. "I .. k ... k ..kind of ...." He struggled with a twitch of his head.

"Have a girlfriend?"

Andy's head c.o.c.ked.

"I'm sorry."

Andy facially ridiculed.

"What?"

"No. I l ... l ...."

"Left your wallet in the car?"

"Em ..."

"Look at me like a sister?"

"Em ..."

"Like us better as friends? I'm going through all the 'L' words here, help me out."

Immediately his hand shot to her mouth and he shook his head. He stepped back, held up a finger, and then signed to her. "No, I've kinda always liked you, too."

Emma's mouth dropped open. "You learn really fast. Holy c.r.a.p. I never knew anyone to pick up sign language that quickly."

Andy shook his head and signed. "I have known it for years. You of all people should know it's the first thing they teach you in speech therapy. I've been going since the accident."

"Then if you ..." she gasped. "Oh, you d.i.c.k." She swiped playfully at him. "Then you knew I taught you wrong."

"Yes," Andy said.

Emma laughed. "You are so getting beat tonight for sure." Suddenly the smile dropped from her face.

Andy looked over his shoulder, then back to Emma with a roll of his eyes. "Ig ... ignore him. P ... play."

Emma growled and racked the b.a.l.l.s. "Why is he here? Oh, great, he's coming over. Hey, he doesn't sign, we can talk about him, and he won't know what we're saying."

Andy snapped his finger and pointed to the pool table, then lifted the rack. "B ... B .. break."

Emma did. It wasn't a very good break, more than likely because she wasn't concentrating. Especially because she saw Del walk to the pool table.

"I didn't cause that, did I?" Del asked.

"No," Emma answered. "Why are you here?"

"It's the only kicking bar around." Del replied. "And I'm being friendly. I bought you guys a drink. Your next round is on me."

"Wow. Cool. Thanks. Wondered what you did with all that money," Emma said, watching Andy take his turn. She winced when he made his shot and seemingly just played as if Del wasn't there.

"You're getting your a.s.s beat," Del said.

"I see that."

"Em, come on, be nice. I'm gonna be in town for a while."

"Why is that?" Emma spun to him. "We haven't seen you in years."

"I've been busy," Del replied. "Your turn."

Emma grunted. She just knew any shot she took wasn't going to be her best. She lined it up, aimed, revved back, took a shot, and missed.

Del snickered. "Sorry. Hey, I'm not interrupting date night. Andy seems p.i.s.sed you aren't talking."

"You are interrupting date night," Emma said, "and he's just concentrating."

Andy looked around the table for a shot. "Em," he called then signed what he was going to shoot for.

"Really?" Del asked. "He signs?"

"Yes, so he can communicate with your son," Emma said smugly.

"What did he say?"

"He said he's a big fan of you on YouTube." She shook her head. "None of your business what he said." She watched Andy take a shot.

"Sign language is good. For him. At least," Del said, "he won't stutter that way. Unless he gets a twitch in his hand."

"Oh my G.o.d." Emma grunted and spun to Andy. "For the love of all that is good will you please just deck him. Hit him. I won't say a word. Go."

Andy just laughed. He shook his head, kissed Emma on the forehead, and took another shot.

"Cute," Del commented. "Anyhow, I'll let you guys go." He turned, stopped, and looked at Andy. "I'm gonna sing Karaoke tonight. What do you say, Andy?"

Andy gave a thumbs up.

"Good. I'll put you in, too." Del turned.

"Whoa!" Emma hurried to Del. "What the h.e.l.l is the matter with you?"

"What? I'm gonna put Andy in to sing." Del shrugged. "What's the big deal?"

"He didn't say he would."

"Actually, Em, he didn't say anything." Del choked out a laugh. "This will be interesting." Del waved to Andy. "See ...see... see you A ... A... A.. Andy."

"a.s.shole," Emma commented as Del walked away. She returned to Andy. "He's putting your name in."

Andy shrugged. "It's ....so ....so ... kay."

"Really? You'll sing?"

Andy nodded. "You ... you .. lost."

Emma looked at the empty table. "s.h.i.t. I'll rack." She walked to the table. "You don't have to sing."

"So...so... Kay. I sing."

"Oh. You never did before."

Another shrug from Andy.

"Are you any good?"

"I'm okay."

Okay.

Andy said he was 'okay'. Admittedly, Emma was nervous for Andy when he got up to sing. Del had just done a karaoke version of his own song, rocking the house, getting a standing ovation, and then Andy stepped up.

He whispered to the DJ what he wanted to sing and never took the microphone off the stand.

Emma downed a shot.

Her own father stood with her, telling her that, after Andy was done, he was going to personally take Del from the bar.

Emma felt relieved by that. The last thing Andy needed was to be even more humiliated by Del. After all, Del was an awesome singer.